We are safe; are any of us really safe?

I'd like to wish each of you a Happy Thanksgiving and blessed holiday. 

Please pray for or send good thoughts to Ferguson, Missouri, a community about thirty miles away, which is in great turmoil because of the actions of a few agitators who prefer outlandish and criminal behavior to peaceful protest. Crowd mentality is building and spreading across America.

True, there is need for change, but positive change does not result from anger, violent actions, rioting and looting. I am ashamed. Unrest and peace disturbance in other neighborhoods has led to cancellations of schools, classes, businesses closing early, and the postponement of our downtown Thanksgiving Day parade.  It is sad that the majority does not rule and we allow a few to destroy our towns and threaten our well being.


If you have time, please take a look at my latest brief essay about giving thanks. I am proud to be a guest blogger on the Pallonttine Renewal Center site.
http://pallottinerenewal.org/2014/11/25/new-blog-the-habit-of-thanks/

Then, for a candid account of how Cappy Hall Rearick really felt about Thanksgiving, check out this link which will take you to a story in Not Your Mother's Book...On Family.

http://laughuntilyoupee.wordpress.com/ It will be posted on Thanksgiving day. I laughed out loud when I first received her submission. Cappy tells it like it is.

"Our Thanksgiving began in earnest after the SUV carrying the grandkids from hell was history. Looking at those diminishing taillights was a plentiful reason to give thanks."

Counting my blessings instead of my problems. Thank you for your readership.

Happy Halloween

 Didn't even consider trademark infringement... 

and we had so much fun 35 years ago!

 

Our children were young. We were next door neighbors. We worked a week on those heads. We used oversized balloons, paper machae`d them and allowed them to dry at Rose's house, then we painted them.

Rose and I had a blast that Halloween trick-or-treating with the kids. People would stop us and take our picture. We went into neighbors' homes and shocked the women as we acted a little too familiar and frisky with their husbands. We received more candy than the children that year. One of my fondest memories of my late friend Rose.

Now hop on over here and see what Kathe had to contend with...and it wasn't even Halloween when her kids spotted the costumed witches.

Did I ever tell you about the time...

I still get a flush thinking about how embarrassing it could have been at the book launch party when Dianna Graveman and I released and promoted Not Your Mother's Book...On Family, and Not Your Mother's Book...On Being a Mom, (Publishing Syndicate).

I was so nervous and excited as we greeted patrons outside StL Books in Kirkwood, MO, I wanted to raise my arm pits to the gentle evening breeze on July 15th. But, I didn't. Like Anne Lamott, I must have lipstick on. I discreetly reapplied frequently, then stuffed the tube back into my teeny tiny sweater pocket.

At the specified time, we invited everyone indoors for a raffle and readings. I stood at the entrance, and as the throng proceeded into the small bookstore I smiled, nodded, greeted; repeated...and then I felt it! Panic set in, and I almost lost it (literally). I saw Lynn's adult daughter, Jessica, making her way through the line and mouthed HELP ME? I hugged her as if we were old friends, even though I'd only met her recently. She looked surprised when I leaned in and whispered in her ear.

"Please, do me a favor. Bend down and retrieve my cellphone which has been making its way from my waist inside my slacks, and is traveling down my leg. It's almost at my ankle, and will be exiting at any minute."

She laughed, and without missing a stride, bent down, grabbed my phone and handed it to me. I owe that young lady a latte`.


StL Books in Kirkwood, on the corner of Kirkwood Road and W. Jefferson, has Not Your Mother's Books available, so if you are looking for a gift, want to chuckle at the humorous collections of short stories, or would like to support local authors, please stop in, purchase a book or two and say hello to Robin and her family. Tell them Linda and Dianna sent you.

Oh What a Night!

Not Your Mother's Book...On Family 

Not Your Mother's Book...On Being a Mom
Publishing Syndicate, Ken and Dahlynn McKowen (2014)

 

Dianna Graveman and I had a very successful double book launch party at STL Books at

100 W. Jefferson in Kirkwood, MO. This intimate little walking community boasts everything from beautiful Victorian homes to new houses. One of the most famous structures is the Magic House, a renowned children's museum housed in a refurbished historical mansion. 

 

Kirkwood is progressive and contemporary, a blending of old and new, young and young at heart, and it has that small town feel. There are indie business and many restaurants. It is a family friendly town with outdoor farmer's market and much more. I encourage everyone to visit.

 

Thank you Dianna for your continuous support!

 

Thank you, Robin Theiss (below) for hosting our event. We sold so many books and also raised money for The Family Resource Center. 10% of all sales that night was donated to the worthy cause.

 

Contributors each wore a corsage. They also received a STL Books note pad and participated in a drawing for a basket and an attendance prize. 

 

Refreshments included sweet, salty and savory snacks, wine and soda.

 

Dianna and I gathered with some of the contributors:

Laura Graf, Cathi LaMarche, Sioux Roslawski, Tammy Goodsell. Where are you Jean Whatley, author of Off The Leash?

 

We had a huge turnout in a very small bookstore. We were elbow to elbow. I counted fifty indoors,

but because our party overflowed to outdoors, we probably had about 75-100 in attendance.

 

Jenny Beatrice (left) read her humorous story from the Mom's book. She brought her sisters,  

the wonderful NUNS from St. Joseph's of Carondelet.

 

 Melissa Fouss (below) read her very funny story about her mom and the Hell's Angels. Sioux Roslawski and Renee Hughes also read.  Laughter and applause rang out!

 

 

Alvin Reid, local award winning journalist and public television personality on Donny Brook, who debates current events on Channel 9, hammed it up with Kimberly Curran Cole, who put her kids to bed at 8, left them with hubby, and drove all the way from O'Fallon to support us. She arrived just before closing. What a friend!

 Thanks to Ron Theiss (far right corner) co owner of STL Books for tending bar, and thanks to Linda and store manager, Erin, and Sam for EVERTHING!

 

We left a few books on consignment, so if you didn't get a chance to stop by, drop in and purchase one or both of these funny books, and be sure to say hello to Robin and staff.

 

Contributors in attendance:

Candace Carabus, Cathi R. Lamarche, Donna Volkenannt, Ellie Grossman, Jenny Beatrice, Laura Graf, Marcia Gaye, Mary Horner, Patricia Wahler, Renee Hughes, Sioux Roslawski, T'Mara goodsell, Sheree Nielsen, Jamie Krakover, Lynn Obermoeller, Lauara Ray, Verna Simms, Melissa Fuoss, Victoria Nichols, Dianna Graveman, Linda O'Connell